"Effects of El Nino on central California fisheries or other California fisheries will perhaps be clearer when landing and effort data have been collected and processed. Currently, indirect effects like fish target switching, increased sea lion predation, and adverse sea conditions may be affecting fisheries more than a decline in catches in past months. Also, the initial effects will mostly be seen in geographic shifts in distribution since effects of low food supplies are likely to have a more delayed effect. To date it seems the only documented effects for commercial fisheries have been noted in the albacore fishery (positive-fish inshore becoming more accessible to fishermen with a protracted season), Monterey salmon (negative, less fish and re-targeting to albacore), squid (not rising to fishermen's lights and moving to deeper water), and rockfish production down (negative-catches first-year juveniles on annual research survey last year lowest on record).Also, in the recreational fishery, record catches (since the 1940s) of sportfish were made last year between Morro Bay and the Mexican border (yellowtail, yellowfin tuna, dorado), as reported in the L.A. Times. Albacore fishing usually peters out in Oct-Nov, but catches were still being made off More Bay in January. Over 3000 yellowtail were landed in December off Dana Point, catches previously unheard of. If I hear of more info, will pass on.--Susan Smith <susan.smith@noaa.gov>